Rural Roundup -- May 16, 2012

• The Roblin Donor’s Choice campaign raised more than $34,000 for 17 local and national charities.

“People are picking their charities, they’re really making a donor’s choice,” Dave Mack said.

“We’d like to thank everyone who donated to the campaign this year , and to those who helped canvass,” said Marilyn Simpson, chair of the campaign.

» The Roblin Review

• The City of Dauphin has reduced municipal taxes by 5.38 per cent.

“This to me is a dream come true,” said city finance chair Al Dowhan. “We needed a prudent plan to reduce the expenditures and also reduce the mill rate to be competitive with other communities in our province.”

» Dauphin Herald

• The Keyano College Huskies have recruited three more players from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Dauphin Kings defenceman Matt McAleenan will suit up for the Huskies in their inaugural season in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.

McAleenan is the third King recruited to the college, following Calvin Cairns and Justin Remillard. Also joining the trio is Dauphin native Dallas Drysdale, who captained the OCN Blizzard last season.

» Dauphin Herald

• After an absence of nearly two decades, the Russell Rams are making a return to the North Central Hockey League.

“Originally we were looking at Saskatchewan (leagues) because there was less travel in their league, but when we heard that the (Foxwarren) Falcons were making a comeback, we decided that it would be nice to start up that bit of rivalry again,” Greg Boden said.

» Russell Banner

• Since their two-year-old son Larsen was diagnosed with leukemia, the Brunel family has been spending a lot of time away from their home in St. Rose du Lac.

During one of the family’s recent trips to the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg, a fire completely destroyed their home.

“The house hasn’t dampened our spirits,” Rob Brunel said.

The family chose to focus on the positive, after Larsen’s sister Miley was tested as a match for a bone marrow transplant.

» Neepawa Banner

• Eleven acts took the stage at the fifth annual Talent Night fundraiser held at the Bethany Community Centre.

About 60 people filled seats and were treated to instrumentals, singing and dancing.

» The Minnedosa Tribune

• The Neepawa Farmers are adding the final pieces to their team in preparation for MSBL league play.

Mike Levandosky will manage a team that returns Bryan White, Ian Hockin, Cam Tibbett, Shayne Henton, Jason Vinnell, Matt Lowry and Isaac Rodriguez.

The team also recruited Torey Scott, formerly of the Carberry Royals of the Santa Clara Baseball League.

“He’s a good leadoff hitter,” said Levandosky about Scott. “He can run like a deer.”

» Neepawa Banner

• Derek and Donna Jenkins flew their 1965 Piper Cherokee airplane on an air adventure in March.

The Jenkins’ plane was part of nine planes that saw the Bahamas from the sky as part of Caribbean Sky Tours.

» Crossroads This Week

• Staff Sgt. John Dryden, who took over the command of the Yellowhead area in September 2010, will retire from the RCMP in mid-July.

Dryden, who grew up in Brandon, joined the RCMP in 1980.

» Crossroads This Week

• Twenty auctioneers descended on Virden for the Man/Sask Auctioneering Championship competition.

“The judges listen for things like mannerism, voice control, clarity, rhythm and chant,” said Rick Wright, chairman of the competition.

» Virden Empire-Advance

• The Reston Memorial Theatre is going digital.

The theatre board is currently examining cost of refurbishing the interior and exterior. That, coupled with the cost of converting to a digital system could amount to over $100,000.

The Reston Memorial Hall was built in 1948 after the Second World War to honour those who sacrificed in the two world wars.

» Reston Recorder

• Cody Milliken (at left in photo) and Terry Beazley from Killarney Collegiate won awards from the Manitoba Basketball Coaches Association.

Milliken was named the AA Male Basketball Player of the Year, an award voted on by members of the MBCA. While Beazley captured the AA Male Coach of the Year.

» The Killarney Guide

• Gordon Woolley, from Minto, was recently inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in the builders’ category.

Woolley has spent more than 30 years helping to develop the game both locally and provincially.

» The Boissevain Recorder

• Thirty ash trees were planted in the yard at Glenboro School.

Teacher Glen Jefferies was joined by Val Outhwaite, Jessica Chamberlin, Lucas Delichte, Myles Outhwaite, Nic Wytinck and Taylor Arason.

The trees were planted near the location where several poplar trees were cut down last fall.

» The Gazette

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition May 16, 2012